Many fruits and vegetables have a unique ability to carry heavy metals out of our bodies through the process of elimination. Both through the stool and urine. The compound which is responsible for carrying out this natural method of detoxification is called pectin.

Pectin is a negatively charged polysaccharide (complex or long chain carbohydrate), which has the ability to bind positively charged heavy metals like lead, barium, cadmium and strontium.

Pectin occurs naturally in some vegetables and in the skin of fruit. It is also commercially produced to add as a thickening agent in homemade jams, jellies and preserves.

Research has also indicated that pectin-rich foods can also have a cholesterol lowering affect. Although pectin can be found in supplement form, eating whole pectin-rich vegetables and fruit is recommended over taking pectin supplements.

Although not a complete list of produce containing pectin, the following is a list of seven foods which are naturally rich in the substance: